Hello,
we are currently deciding between solid construction and timber frame construction.
Some of the advantages and disadvantages are already known.
We would be happy to receive further suggestions, thoughts, and experiences – also regarding the indoor climate, etc.
Thank you very much
we are currently deciding between solid construction and timber frame construction.
Some of the advantages and disadvantages are already known.
We would be happy to receive further suggestions, thoughts, and experiences – also regarding the indoor climate, etc.
Thank you very much
Solid Construction or Prefabricated Timber Frame House?
Both are proven concepts. One in every six houses in Germany is a prefabricated timber frame house. Many prejudices against prefabricated houses date back to the 1970s and 1980s, when prefab companies were not as well established. Nowadays, timber houses can be planned just as individually as solid construction houses.
Here are some advantages and disadvantages of timber houses:
+ Computer-assisted, weather-independent prefabrication of walls in controlled production processes with high quality control in the factory
+ No drying times for the walls (screed also requires drying time)
+ Earlier move-in date (e.g., 6 months after building permit/planning permission instead of 9 months)
+ Better thermal insulation and thus lower heating costs (e.g., easy to achieve KfW-55 standard)
+ Possibly lower price
- Possibly lower resale value (Is this still the case today?)
- Impact sound insulation is worse because the wooden ceiling is not as heavy as a concrete ceiling
- Many prefab companies show little interest in handling tasks such as earthworks, basement construction, wall and floor finishes, landscaping, etc.
In short, we have no reservations against either option and find the debates often fought on the internet to be somewhat exaggerated. (Similar debates nowadays mostly only happen around the topic of child-rearing...)
Both are proven concepts. One in every six houses in Germany is a prefabricated timber frame house. Many prejudices against prefabricated houses date back to the 1970s and 1980s, when prefab companies were not as well established. Nowadays, timber houses can be planned just as individually as solid construction houses.
Here are some advantages and disadvantages of timber houses:
+ Computer-assisted, weather-independent prefabrication of walls in controlled production processes with high quality control in the factory
+ No drying times for the walls (screed also requires drying time)
+ Earlier move-in date (e.g., 6 months after building permit/planning permission instead of 9 months)
+ Better thermal insulation and thus lower heating costs (e.g., easy to achieve KfW-55 standard)
+ Possibly lower price
- Possibly lower resale value (Is this still the case today?)
- Impact sound insulation is worse because the wooden ceiling is not as heavy as a concrete ceiling
- Many prefab companies show little interest in handling tasks such as earthworks, basement construction, wall and floor finishes, landscaping, etc.
In short, we have no reservations against either option and find the debates often fought on the internet to be somewhat exaggerated. (Similar debates nowadays mostly only happen around the topic of child-rearing...)
jx7 schrieb:
Concrete house or prefabricated timber frame house?
Both are proven concepts. Every sixth house in Germany is a prefabricated timber frame house. Many prejudices against prefabricated houses originate from the 1970s and 1980s, when these companies were not as well organized. Today, timber houses can be designed as individually as concrete houses.
Here are some pros and cons of timber houses:
+ Computer-assisted and weather-independent prefabrication of walls in controlled production processes with high quality control in the factory
+ no drying times for walls (screed also requires drying time)
+ earlier move-in date (e.g. 6 months after building permit / planning permission instead of 9 months)
+ better thermal insulation or lower heating costs (e.g. meeting KfW-55 standard) easily achievable
+ possibly lower price
- possibly lower resale value (Is this still true today?)
- impact sound insulation is poorer because timber ceilings are not as heavy as concrete slabs
- many prefabricated house companies show little interest in taking on tasks such as earthworks, basement construction, wall and floor finishes, landscaping, etc.- Additional drying times for the walls in concrete construction only apply to plastering; for many prefabricated houses, the walls must still be "finalized" after assembly (e.g. filling and sanding gaps between elements / drywall / timber walls). Timewise, this balances out. - Later move-in date; currently, there are long waiting lists (often over 1 year) between ordering and completion of the house at the factory; however, the on-site assembly is actually almost as fast as the closed shell construction time.
+ It is not that the thermal insulation is better, but the wall thickness at the same thermal insulation. This can be an advantage on small (narrow) plots.
(From the point of view of thermal insulation, concrete and prefabricated houses can be built to be absolutely equivalent!)
- The price is usually somewhat higher than concrete construction with the same quality and features, especially with individualized, high-end providers.
- Sound insulation is roughly equivalent, in my opinion.
(- Heavy cranes and sufficient space/access are needed; concrete construction can sometimes manage without large cranes, e.g. in "second row" houses with narrow access, though with more effort.)
jx7 schrieb:
In short, we have no reservations against either option and find the online debates often exaggerated. (Similar debates nowadays mainly occur only regarding parenting...) I can only agree with that. Overall, it is probably more a matter of personal preference than something to be decided by arguments.
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